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Dandy had been far too quiet. Vee noticed the moment they began to shut themself in their room more. Concern was welling deep within her circuits, yet she hadn’t had much of the courage to ask what was happening.
The television watched as the elevator opened to the main toons’ private rooms. She stepped out and was about to walk to hers at the end of the hall. Suddenly the sound of ragged shaky breathing caught her attention.
It came from behind Dandy’s door.
Dandy themself has been… rough.
The flower stood in their room after hosting a run. Astro and them had gotten into a rather… well dandy wouldn’t say “heated argument.” More like a discussion on Dandy’ current character. It sort of made Dandy realize how distant they were from their own best friend after all these years. They caused the disconnect, they began the operation, they pushed everyone away. It was their own fault if they felt lonely or miserable wasn’t it? It was their fault toons were hurt by their actions.
It was their fault for being such a bad person.
That realization broke them. This was it. It was their own fault for being this way wasn't it? Dandy’s legs grew shaky and their breathing grew erratic and rough as they felt overwhelmed with emotion.
They were an awful person.
It was too much. The sorrow, the grief, the pain welling in their chest
They were a terrible person.
They were shaking. Dandy could barely breathe. Tears flooded from their eyes. Their heartbeat in their ears. Dandy hated feeling this way. They hated how painful it felt to exist right now. They hated feeling like an awful person. They needed to snap out of this. They needed to stop feeling like this. The flower felt their cloudy and shaky gaze shift towards the desk in their room.
They blacked out for a moment.
Before they knew it, they felt stinging pain in their upper arm.
Dandy felt the tears cease, and their grip on reality returned. Their hand was clutching something. When their eyes landed on what they were holding a new wave of panic swept through them.
A pair of scissors was in their hand. Their sleeve was rolled up all the way to their shoulder. Several scratch marks were present on the inner side of it. No ichor was drawn… but the thought terrified them.
They just hurt themself. On purpose.
What had they done?! Why did they do that!?
They began to breathe heavily again, now with new panic. What was WRONG with them?!
“Dan. Hey Dan!” a voice came, speaking with caution, "what's going on in there?”
Dandy dropped the pair of scissors.
Vee.
Dandy exclaimed, “V-vee…? Hey! Vee!” Their voice sounded like they’ve been crying. “Dandy! What's happening in there!?” Vee demanded and shook the door handle. It was locked. Dandy cried out, “Don’t come inside please! Just.. just talk to me from outside!” The robot stopped trying to open the door and knelt down in front of it. She sat with her back facing the door, and leaned against it. On the other side, Dandy did the same thing. Vee sighed softly, “What do you want to talk about… because you sound really upset Dan. I mean, you haven’t snapped at me to go away in days, and we haven’t exchanged mutual witty teases since last week!” she asked. Dandy rested their head on their knees and wrapped their arms around their legs. “C-can i ask you something?? Please be honest with me!” They asked shakily. Vee nodded, and said, “go ahead….”
“D-do you think I’m a good person…?”
Vee hesitated. “What do you mean?” Dandy stated again, “Am I a good person?” they took a deep breath in before saying, “Sorry, I know it's weird a-and sudden, but I need to know! I just- I think I'm a bad person. Look at what I've done. I began the ichor operation, I shut myself off from toons, and I've wrapped Dyle up in all of this when he didn't want to!” Vee listened carefully as dandy continued, “I just feel like an awful person who’s lack of communication wrecks my chances of having a good relationship. Friendship or otherwise…” The tv toon remained quiet for a moment. Dandy almost asked if she was still there, but she started to speak, “I don’t think there is really a way to be a ‘good person’ at all. We’ll all make mistakes, we’ll all hurt someone else. After all, since the shutdown, we’re all trying to figure out who we’d like to be instead of just what our characters call for.” Vee began. Dandy’s tense breathing began to slow down.
She continued, “Lets be honest, no toon here is truly okay mentally. The shutdown affected us all, and sure the ichor operation doesn’t make it better. Yet when I feel like I'm a bad person I think about this, and oftentimes it helps me.” The thought of that comforted Dandy a bit too. “Look I know my whole ordeal can’t compare to starting the operation… but i want you to know that you might not feel like a good person and that's okay. It’s good to realize when you’re doing something wrong. Instead of moping about it like a child you can try to do something about it.” Dandy delicately leaned more into the door. “Like what?” they asked. Vee drummed her fingers on the hardwood floors beneath her. “Well, you’re already doing one thing. You’re talking about it. You said you didn't have communication, but you decided to open up with me about it. Heck, you might be my biggest rival, but I'm glad you talked to me. I care about you Dan, no matter what witty things I may tease you with.” She said.
Dandy chuckled, they almost forgot what they were so upset over. This conversation made them feel warm, and lifted up. “Gee, thanks cathode. This… this really helped me. How’d I end up with a best rival like you?” they asked. Vee laughed, “Thank Arthur for writing us this way.” She responded. Dandy rolled down their sleeves and stood up. Carefully opening the door. Vee stood up as well and turned to them. The flower opened their arms for a hug. Vee hesitated for a moment before embracing them. Dandy held her tightly. “No need to be all sappy Dan. Heh!” Vee said, gently brushing their petals from their eyes. “You don’t know all the context, or how much this means to me… Thank you for just putting our rivalry aside for a minute to say that to me.” They spoke with a soft tenderness in their voice. Something Vee hadn’t ever heard from them.
“Of course Dandy, what’s a best rival for after all?”